Manchester United were getting battered by Chelsea when Jose Mourinho instructed the club's new signing Nemanja Matic to warm up in front of the away supporters. "Chelsea reject," was the sardonic cry as United supporters settled for gallows humour during their fourth defeat in five matches.

Matic had just rejoined Chelsea from Benfica for £21million after leaving as a makeweight in the deal which took David Luiz to Stamford Bridge three years earlier. Chelsea had thought so lowly of Matic they farmed him out to Vitesse Arnhem and his form at Benfica alerted United, who monitored him for months.

David Moyes, of course, dithered and a player who was described as 'institutionally liked' at United became the first piece of Mourinho's title jigsaw at Chelsea. They have won two of the last three titles and United are about to pay close to double what Matic cost the Premier League champions.

Just like three-and-a-half years ago, Matic is about to bring balance to a Mourinho side.

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"We may have to take a step back in order to be more consistent at the back," Mourinho said after Chelsea's December 2013 League Cup loss at Sunderland. "It's something I don't want to do, to play more counter-attacking, but I'm giving it serious thought.

"If I want to win 1-0, I think I can, as I think it's one of the easiest things in football. It's not so difficult as you don't give players the chance to express themselves."

Seven years younger than Michael Carrick and more adept in a defensive-minded role than Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera, Matic's expected arrival could allow those two - and particularly Paul Pogba - to supplement a wasteful United attack.

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At United's peak last season Mourinho alternated between two teamsheets depending on the strength of the opposition. The 4-3-3 formation, adopted in the autumn and which then made a return in the spring, coincided with United's most momentous and secure spells of football. The 4-2-3-1 was sporadically spectacular (Leicester and Watford at home) while seldom convincing.

The quandary was Carrick, who coasted through United's hectic December but wilted against an intense Liverpool in January. Mourinho then grew impatient when Carrick's lateral passing blunted United in their aimless draw with Hull the next month and the vice-captain was unhappy with his demotion four days later at Leicester. Carrick also lined up in the home draws with Bournemouth, West Brom, Everton and Swansea.

Matic holds off Rashford

The departures of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger deprived United of a defined defensive midfielder, so Mourinho's ambivalence towards Carrick - not an out-and-out defensive option - ranged from summoning him for Juan Mata in the EFL Cup final to starting him in Premier League dead rubbers towards the end of the season. His mileage compelled Mourinho to revert to Fellaini.

Herrera's season featured Herculean performances that went viral and the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award yet it would be an exaggeration to dub him a defensive midfield specialist and churlish to overlook his attacking flair. Fellaini, too, is a far greater asset in attack than defence. Now they could be freed up again.

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No midfielder has made more tackles and interceptions in the Premier League since Matic returned to England, a period which has included the hyperactive Herrera, the emergence of N'Golo Kante and Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham terriers.

Matic excels at shielding his back four and is familiar with starting as the lone holder or as one of a pair of holders since his Benfica days. Key to United's Europa League final victory was Mourinho's decision to 'invert the pyramid', siding Pogba and Herrera at the base with Fellaini ahead of them, forcing Ajax to play long against a United that was 'taller and dominant in that area'. You can see why Matic was prioritised.

Matic or Carrick allow United to have multiple attacking midfield choices

Fellaini was the ideal selection since, as Ryan Giggs explained, 'he does exactly what you say'. The Belgian was still an auxiliary option and the incentive in signing Matic is two attacking midfielders, rather than one, could be more proficient with a seasoned expert like the Serb holding the fort.

One reason Mourinho opted for a bespoke formation was United were hampered by Eric Bailly's absence. "With your feet, we're for sure not playing out of the back!" he bluntly informed Chris Smalling. Victor Lindelof, another footballing defender, could prompt United to play out from their own third and Matic is an alternative, so opponents cannot disturb the one outlet like Liverpool did with Carrick. Van Gaal and Mourinho were reliant on Carrick and next season United could have three assured ball-players at the base of their spine.

Mourinho could 'invert the pyramid' without Pogba dropping deep

Matic's role as the team's 'pivot', spraying passes left, right and centre, might be the most important if United are to upgrade from pragmatism.

"The man is a giant," Mourinho beamed after Chelsea beat Liverpool in November 2014. 'Monster' Matic stands at 6ft 4ins and his cumbersome frame did not prevent him from chalking up a decent number of assists (seven) while supposedly restricted to the middle third under Antonio Conte.